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Tony Antoniou, who stepped down as dean of Durham Business School in the UK on September 5, has been suspended from the school following an investigation into allegations of plagiarism. An independent panel of three senior professors undertook the investigation and upheld the allegation.

Although the incident took place nearly 20 years ago - Prof Antoniou’s article was published in 1988 - the ramifications for Durham Business School, and the university more widely, will be felt strongly today.

Prof Antoniou joined Durham in 1998 as professor of finance and was chairman of the department of economics and finance. He became dean of the business school in January 2002 when the department of economics and the business school were merged. Part of the logic behind the merger was to improve the research rigour of the business school, which in the 2001 UK government research assessment exercise scored a mediocre 3a. Prof Antoniou was seen as the man who could improve that reserach score.

The story of the allegations against Prof Antoniou appeared in the Times Hiogher Education Supplement earlier this month, along with reports that the University of York is investigating other allegations, this time regarding Prof Antoniou’s doctoral thesis.

A statement from Durham University says that it has now embarked on an international search for a new dean for the business school and that it is currently being managed by an interim management team of senior staff led by John Anstee, a former senior Pro-Vice Chancellor with the University.